Marketing In Brief

Sephora.com: Beauty seekers now can access video tutorials, peruse top-10 lists of favorite products from celebrities and brand founders, visit a "lounge" for sharing beauty secrets and participate in discussion forums with launch of BeautyTalk at Sephora.com. BeautyTalk builds on the site's Ratings & Reviews feature, which allows consumers to post feedback on products. Sephora expects insight gained from on-site consumer dialogue will help the specialty retailer meet consumer wants and needs. "BeautyTalk was created in direct response to this and to meet the high demand from our clients for a place where they could engage directly with us and each other," says Julie Bornstein, senior vice president of Sephora Direct, in a Sept. 29 release. "We are thrilled to create this community for them, which is unlike any other beauty forum on the web. It reflects our ongoing commitment to using the newest technologies to continuously evolve our site and make it even more engaging and exciting for our clients."

Avon: Direct seller introduces Healthy Makeup, a "premiere color collection committed to skin's health," according to the firm. Makeup addresses the three elements of healthy skin - hydration, texture and radiance - and features Avon's Triple Vitamin & Antioxidant Complex, a blend of vitamins A, C and E, as well as pomegranate, olive leaf and apple root extracts. "The whole collection is developed to go beyond helping skin's appearance on the surface to improving skin's moisture, texture and luminosity," says Avon Global Creative Color Director Jillian Dempsey. "It lets your natural radiance shine through." Healthy Makeup comprises mousse foundation ($10), liquid foundation ($10), lipstick ($9), lip conditioner ($9), and eye shadow ($8) in hues including Crystal Waters, Limestone and Tiger's Eye.

L'Oreal: Cosmetics giant signs actress Julianna Margulies, a Golden Globe winner and star of legal drama "The Good Wife," as new brand ambassador for L'Oreal Paris , according to a Sept. 27 release. Margulies will appear in advertisements for the firm beginning in 2011. "I'm honored to represent a brand that is rich in history, synonymous with beauty and reflective of the modern woman," says Margulies. Karen T. Fondu, president of L'Oreal Paris, notes that "in addition to her obvious talent and beauty, Julianna is a charming, inspirational and accomplished woman who embodies the spirit of our brand philosophy 'Because You're Worth It.'"